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Catherine Aird has been writing the Inspector Sloan novels since the late 60s and is the kind of writer the British call "civilized," meaning that her violence happens politely and her clues are scrupulously fair. Chapter and Hearse collects shorter pieces, some Sloan and some standalones, and it is a fine introduction to the voice if you have not read her before.
The strongest stories here are the ones that turn on a tiny social observation. An aunt's misremembered remark. A guest book entry that should not be there. The kind of thing that only matters if you have been paying attention to the household for sixty pages. Aird is very good at the household.
A few of the entries feel like exercises rather than full stories, which is the nature of collections. But the ones that work are quietly perfect. Three stars overall, four for the title story.
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